Friday, July 25, 2014

There has been a veritable bouquet of new friends and readers at Antiques By Joy lately,

and I'm taking this opportunity to say how delighted I am to have you join me here!

This is where I explore and share all sorts ofmeanderings, memories and musings . . .

and invite you to tarry awhile,

relax

and break away from work and stress and life's little cares.

It's healthy to take a few minutes each day to just breathe deeply, stretch your body and soul,

and escape to a place where you can be

thankful and share a smile.

I find that some weeks I post more than other weeks . . .

I take time away for buying trips and often have a hectic schedule at the antiques shops . . .

but I always return to the quiet pleasure of sharing my thoughts and experiences with you.

If you look through the previous posts, I've been tracking my beginnings as an antiques dealer

from the time I first longed to be in the business . . . through the throes of set up and many of my
faux pas of business development.

I started that series because I hear nearly every day,

"How did you get started in this wonderful business?"

OR,

"I wish I had a shop like this."

I have older posts about learning to "pick" with my grandmother,
and
her incredible talent and enthusiasm for life.
There are how to's and what if's and buying trip exploits
scattered throughout the pages for you.
You'll hear about me, my philosophy, my faith and my background,
and some pretty crazy things I've tried.
(Some were great fun and some were total flops.)
This is the real Joy, freckles, bruises and all!

I've always believed the old adage that laughter is the best medicine . . . and you may feel free to laugh at me and my wonderful trials and errors!

So, grab a cup of tea, and take a few minutes to look through the blog posts for some
fun and funny
memories
and some relaxing (and hopefully) enriching reading.

Can you imagine . . . Joy is busy
along with partners Melanie and Kellie
organizing our autumn displays!
In retail it's imperative that we stay a couple of months ahead of the season,
so that you can shop, ponder and plan your own seasonal decorating.
This requires us to purchase spring garden items while it's icy and snowy, and Christmas ornaments while it's still steamy July!!!!

We exist, "out of context"
sometimes,
so hopefully you don't have to!

Thank you for taking time to read along my friend,
and please know that I am honored by you being here!

If you begin "following"
the blog,
you'll see every once in awhile that I will offer a"SPECIAL"
for you readers alone!
Simply click "FOLLOW" on my home page.
As aWELCOME GIFT
to you
you may use this code
THROUGH THE END OF JULY
at Dwell Antiques & Home

"JOYFUL READER"and receive 10@ off any one JOY tagged item!(This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.)

There's no denying it - the energy and resources you'll invest will be greater than you've ever imagined.

That's why you shouldn't try it alone, or with less than adequate training and guidance.

Like flying a jet full of passengers,

you will have more success with the advice and coaching of an experienced professional.

When you have someone who's travelled the path successfully guiding you through the process,

it needn't overwhelm or defeat you.

Perhaps you've been in business for a while and are floundering . . .

wondering why some shops are flourishing while yours is merely existing.

Sales may be lagging, customers lethargic, the competition looking fierce.

You have an opportunity to follow along and examine a multitude of ways you can improve your level of appeal, traffic, sales, business revenue, satisfaction and customer loyalty.

We will explore it all!

There's a

R E A L J O Y

in doing what you do so well that your customers recommend your business to their friends and family.

There's a

R E A L J O Y

in having testimonials from your customers - every day.

There's a

R E A L J O Y

in meeting lots of "first time" new customers every day.

There's a

R E A L J O Y

in knowing your business is growing and thriving

and you can breathe deeply and feel

truly blessed.

If you think it might be time for you to take a step toward your

R E A L J O Y

follow along.

Today, we're going to examine your CONCEPTLets talk about what you think you have to sell the world.Who are you?What's your concept?Who cares?What research have you done in this area?What makes you think that you should open a shop?Who else sells this same product/service?Have they succeeded?How will you do it better?Who would become your customer?Let's hear your answers.Really!Get out your pencil and answer these questions before you go any further.

This is the way I started out, nearly forty years ago:

Who are you?

I'm Joy, and I love antiques and history and home decorating. I've studied and practiced what I love, and people say I'm good at it!

I have a penchant for turning the ordinary, boring, run of the mill room into a desirable, WOW space that people are excited to call their own.

What's your concept?

Everyone who likes home decorating is looking for something that expresses who they are and how they want the world to perceive them. They're bored with shopping the existing home furnishing and decor stores, because these venues don't offer enough items that are unique, original or exciting.

Who cares?

People I'm talking to have expressed an interest in sourcing unique, exciting home decor like they've seen in my home and in the homes I've helped style for family and friends. The problem - They're not finding what they want, or can't quite envision what they can do to give their house a vibrant and "one of a kind" look!!!!

What research have you done in this area?

I've visited scores of home decor stores, large and small, chains and 'mom&pop' shops, and conversed with shop owners and salespeople about what their best selling items are and what customers are seeking that they can't find anywhere.

What makes you think that you should open a shop?

Friends and family, and owners of and guests in the homes I've styled, have asked for my contact info, because they want me to help them restyle their homes. They want to get that special look. They say I should have a shop where they can come and purchase the sort of unique items I've procured. They love what I do and wish they had access to my style. When I mention what I do, people clamour to learn more and they ask for my advice. They love the items I'm showing them.

Who else sells this same product/service?

Interior Designers provide a similar service, but on a one on one basis - and they can be a little intimidating and more pricey because of the time they invest. Antique shops are often filled with great old things, but not with an eye to what their customers are seeking. No shop exists in my area that does what I want to do, on a personal level.

No one around has a retail shop where interesting antique items have been chosen for their originality, personality and usefulness.

Big stores in the area try . . . but . . .

Have they succeeded?

They can satisfy a lot of people, but not the niche group that I'm focused on. The big stores have ignored this strata of customers, because it demands personal searching which is more time consuming and customer oriented than they can be. They can't stock a big store with the hand picked antiques I'm talking about.

How will you do it better?

I've got a knack for identifying and sourcing one of a kind and antique items that create excitement and desire with people in my area. I want to get to know my customers and then buy the things that express their personalities. I want to offer more personalized service. I want to share the story behind each piece I have for sale. I love to bring history to life, I want to cherish and re-use and bring new life to old objects.

Who would become your customer?

I believe a large number of the customers who shop in the local home decor super stores are less than satisfied, with service, product quality and choice of merchandise. I believe half of them would prefer the chance to shop in a smaller, more personal environment and to deal with the owner. I think antiques lovers will become my customers, as well as home decorators. I believe people of any age or income can appreciate what I want to present.Apply these questions to your concept and think about your answers.Do you have a great concept?Stay tuned for the next installmentoffinding yourR E A L J O Y

Friday, July 11, 2014

I was young, and needed to earn a living and the job was there and I took it.

But

it wasn't what I really wanted to do.

I had this job, and was good at doing it,

but it didn't satisfy the craving in my heart for the creative yearnings that were nested there.

Because no one had ever taught me that I could follow my heart's desire.

I learned at a very young age to dutifully do the things that were set before me
to do them well
and to be thankful that I had the ability to work and live a good life.
I was healthy and strong and smart and able.

There were things you should do in life, and I had obediently fallen into one of them and was working diligently to be very good at it.

The problem was,

it went against the grain.

It wasn't an outpouring of my natural talents and abilities and loves.

I wasn't following my heart.

It was an insurance company sort of position.

(I was good with crisis management, and numbers and with people - no denying - but this was boring.)

Meanwhile,

I was newly married, furnishing a new home, and for fun I was picking antiques for my aunt's shop.

My grandmother and I would travel the backroads scouring barns and out buildings, farm sales and auctions, tagsales and thriftshops,

seeking the wonderful items the shop needed.

The thrill of the hunt!
Thereal joy
was my weekends of exploring and finding treasure.